What I Do Really Matters -
A Perspective From A Personal Life Coach

For most of our lives we have been motivated by a certain sense of justice that has usually pitted us against the powers to be. Early in our careers we were excited and exhilarated by what we were doing; we believed we were living our dream.

At some point in our careers the enthusiasm waned. We realized that what we were doing was also a business. Following our dream became more elusive and our vision was clouded. We started to compromise our attitudes and beliefs.

Our dreams and idealism of a better world soon became buried and forgotten. Our lives became more complex and our responsibilities increased with concerns about providing for our families and for some of us our addictions.

We lost the spring in our step and the smile on our face and started to wonder if it was all worth it. For most of us it has been worth it but along the way there have been a lot of casualties. What good is it to get that big verdict or big settlement if we canât get along with our family or friends? And what good is that big verdict or big settlement if we are too sick to enjoy it?

After thirty years as a plaintiff's personal injury attorney who also represented many criminal defendants early in my career, I retired from the practice of law. Throughout my life I have always been looking for that way to keep my early sense of purpose. I have explored different disciplines and philosophies, such as yoga and meditation, which have given me a different perspective at looking at life's challenges.

As a life coach I help you to clarify what is really important in your life. When we become clear as to our core values and priorities, and live life from that perspective, fulfillment in business and personal life is more possible.

The process in which we identify your values and priorities only takes a few minutes and requires only a pen and paper. Draw a circle and divide it into eight segments. When you are done, you will have what looks like a wheel with eight spokes. Each segment represents a different aspect of your life: finances, career, significant other, personal growth/spirituality, family and friends, health and wellness, physical environment, and the last one is fun, recreation and creativity.

Now what I want you to do is to subjectively evaluate each aspect of your life by designating a number between 1-10 that corresponds to your level of satisfaction. Your highest level of satisfaction will be a 10. Once you complete the wheel it usually becomes clear as to what areas of your life you want to explore. Together we devise a strategy so that you feel that you are getting closer to that next level in your life in these areas.

To help you have a vision of what you are capable of at that next level, I ask you to remember 4-5 peak experiences, moments in time in which you felt on top of the world.

Throughout the totally confidential coaching relationship, the focus is on putting back into your life the spring in your step and the smile on your face and along the way rediscovering what motivated you to begin this journey in the first place. This does not happen overnight, and we check in on the phone usually weekly and sometimes via e-mail. The goal is to empower you so that you are living closer to your dream. It is an exciting and very rewarding process.

Take the next step and explore the potential that coaching can add to your life. Perhaps together we can rekindle that passion that makes life really worth living and exciting to ourselves and to those around us.

Mark Susnow is a coach, writer, speaker and group facilitator who motivates and empowers others to live the life they want and deserve. Confidential sessions can be scheduled on the phone or in person.